9Health Fair Site Coordinator LaQuita Johnson reports a shortage of volunteers with the medical background necessary for taking blood pressure.

The Blood Pressure Screening is popular and it takes 12 to 15 people working all morning to keep the line moving. Blood Draw is the other very popular screening with 9Health Fair attendees and requires 20 to 23 phlebotomists working for the entire morning to keep that line moving. Johnson is certain she can make good use of anyone with a medical background. Volunteering is a fine way to give to your community, as well as a fine way to make new contacts in the community.

The 30th annual 9Health Fair will take place throughout the month of April at more than 155 sites around Colorado. Here in Pagosa, it will happen on Saturday, April 3, at the high school from 7 a.m. to noon.

9Health Fair delivers free and low-cost health awareness and educational screenings to individuals 18 years of age and over. Since 1980, more than 1.5 million people have taken advantage of 9Health Fair to protect their health as a result of early detection, prevention, and dynamic educational programming statewide.

Basic screenings at all fair locations include the blood chemistry analysis which screens cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, thyroid (TSH), kidney and liver function, and more ($30). During the same blood analysis, men age 40 and over can receive a prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening ($25). There is also a blood count screening available to determine the overall health of your blood ($15) and a Colon Cancer Screening kit ($20) to take home. Free height, weight, body mass index, vision, and blood pressure screenings are also available. Other optional free screenings such as oral, hearing, body in balance, breast exam and bone density can be accessed, as well.

9Health Fair is Colorado’s largest community health fair program, and the largest community health, wellness and prevention effort in the nation. Created by a National Institutes of Health physician, 9Health Fair is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that has earned unique endorsements from the Colorado Medical Society and the Colorado Nurses Association and is supported by the Colorado Health and Hospital Association.

Over 200 volunteers are involved to assist the more than 700 participants who are expected to make the 9Health Fair part of their health practice this year. If you would like to take part in this most rewarding event, in either a medical or non-medical capacity, please call Johnson at 264-0661 or e-mail lqj121853@aol.com.